Poland Investigates Explosion on Key Rail Line Supplying Ukraine
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Monday condemned an explosion that damaged a railway line used to transport military and humanitarian supplies to Ukraine as an "unprecedented act of sabotage." Authorities said the damage was discovered on Sunday near the village of Mika, about 100 kilometres (62 miles) southeast of Warsaw.
Tusk said the attack directly targeted "the security of the Polish state and its civilians." He did not identify suspects, but vowed on the social platform X that "we will catch the perpetrators, whoever they are." The prime minister also announced that Poland's national security committee, including military commanders and presidential representatives, would meet to coordinate the response.
Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski told investigators the explosion appeared to have been triggered via a cable; a fragment of cable was reportedly recovered at the scene. According to officials, the damage to the track "was likely intended to derail a train," but a driver who noticed the defect averted a potential accident and no injuries were reported.
Polish authorities said two other incidents on the same route are also under investigation. Near the city of Pulawy, several dozen metres of track were damaged, forcing a train to stop, and a short distance later an obstruction had been placed on one rail. Those earlier episodes caused no accidents.
AFP reporters at Mika observed repair crews working on the damaged section while police and railway security guarded the site. Poland — a NATO and EU member that has become a major logistics hub for aid to Ukraine — said it would pursue those responsible. In recent years Warsaw has restricted Russian diplomatic activity on its soil, closed two Russian consulates and detained people it suspects of acting on Moscow's behalf.
International reaction: NATO officials said the alliance is in close contact with Polish authorities investigating the incident. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned that "the threats to our security are real and growing" and urged Europe to strengthen protection for skies and critical infrastructure. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga expressed solidarity with Poland and offered investigative assistance "if called upon," suggesting the incident could be a "hybrid attack" designed to test responses.
Investigations are ongoing. Polish authorities have not publicly attributed responsibility for the explosion and continue to gather evidence and coordinate with international partners.
